Merdeka Center: Malay voters’ preference for Pakatan rises by 3 percentage points, drops 8 points for BN
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — A survey conducted by independent pollster Merdeka Center has found that Malay voters who are inclined to vote for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 15th general election (GE15) rose to 13 per cent on October 28 from 10 per cent back on May 31.
In comparison, Malay respondents who were inclined to vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) declined from 40 per cent to 32 per cent in the same period.
Malay voters surveyed also showed declining inclination towards Perikatan Nasional (PN), with 22 per cent reporting they would vote for the coalition on May 31 but only 20 per cent on Oct 28.
Ethnic Chinese respondents demonstrated a strong preference for PH (47 per cent), with little interest in BN (5 per cent) and PN (1 per cent).
Indian voters meanwhile mainly supported PH (51 per cent) and BN (32 per cent) compared to PN (1 per cent), and had the highest number of voters who refused to vote (8 per cent).
The survey also found that no coalition at the moment possesses a clear simple majority as illustrated by voters' preference.
Overall, 26 per cent of the voters surveyed indicated a preference for PH, 24 per cent would choose to vote BN, and 13 per cent backed PN.
A further 31 per cent were unsure of the party they would vote for while 4 per cent refused to cast a vote.
MORE TO COME
Of the Malay voters surveyed, 15 per cent did not prefer any party while another 15 per cent remained unsure.
A total of 18 per cent of ethnic Chinese voters did not prefer any party and 23 per cent were unsure, the highest number of fence-sitting voters across ethnic lines.
Despite the high level of refusal to vote, only 2 per cent of Indian voters did not indicate a preference for any party while 6 per cent were unsure.
Merdeka Center surveyed 1,209 respondents aged 18 and above via telephone from all states and constituencies, proportional to the population in each parliament constituency.
The survey was conducted from October 19 to 28.
